TRADE WITH CHINA

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 15

TRADE WITH CHINA

NEW ZEALAND LAGS BEHIND

MINISTER POINTS THE WAY

' The opportunity Chinaoffers for .'New Zealand trade was commented'oil yesterday by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters),' who declared that he ■was making every effort ( ;to impress on Chambers of Commerce, manufacturers' associations, tiio ;produce boards, and business people generally throughout the Dominion the possibilities' of expanding trade with, the East. Mr.' Masters produced iigures ' showing that the total imports into Hong Kong in 1931 ivpre valued at £39,900,000, and of this Australian, exports were' valued at £340,000 and New Zealand's at only ■•■£14,163..-.- The, approximate value of exports.from Hong, Kong to Australia for the same year was about £86,000, exports to New Zealand being valued at £2542. > \ <-.'■■. ■. , NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. It was seen from the. nature of imports into Hong Kong.that New Zealand could .supply articles that were needed. .Imports of bacon arid iham totalled 1,260,2631b, but New Zealand contributed nothing. Butter imports were valued at £42,270, but New Zealand 's 'share }was only £2619. ,The Dominion exported fungus valued at' '£9788 toHong'Korig in that year, but apart from this her exports to the Chinese port' were negligible, in/spite of the fact that Hong.' Kong imported large, quantities of .', frozen beef (561,8901b), frozen game and poultry (118,11531b),' frozen mutton (379,1641b), butter (£42,270), cheese (£8290), mushrooms • (£192,000); Condensed milk (£209,500), '.. blanket' (1,066,2361b), hides and skins ":(£16,7.00), ' upper^ leather (£146,000), fancy 'and toiletsoap (£28,000). : v '. . , ' The values of,imports into China during 1929, the.latest.year for which: figures were available/ and in -which: New Zealaiid;exporters might bo in-' terested, were shown as*1 follows:—Freshapples, £119,488; seeds, :£ 68,947; cheese, £19,097; , condensed' -'jnUk,' £262,831; butter, £109,115; household and laundry spap^y £135,770; toilet arid fancy, soap, £233,863; .'vleather '.materials,----£997,767; cement, £451^6905 cordage and tiyine, £173,929; blankets and rugs| (wool and'cotton), £164,322. v . . \ PRESENT TEADE VERY SMALL. The Minister pointed ■ out that" there is a substantial- demahd- in China for commodities ■ New /Zealand can supply, but that New Zealand ?s!. proportion of th? trade is lamentably small. He had been advised, he said, that provided sufficient cargo offered, the Osaka Shosen Kaisha, steamers might be inydueed to call .regularly at Hong Kong and/or Shanghai: on ; the, outward •vpyago .from- Japan, 'thus affording direct shipment for New Zealand Exporters. Mr. Mastor's; pointed^ out further'that / the Industries arid ■ Commerce Department has honorary agents in Tientsin and Shanghai, and he;said that any-' information obtainable from them which would interest , business people: would be readily made avail-'